When I came to URI last year as a freshman, I was very timid and shy. It was difficult for me to go out of my comfort zone to make friends and to live in a new place without my family. That spring, I decided to do something totally out of my norm and apply to be a tour guide. After the strenuous application and interview process, I got the job! I was so proud of myself but I knew that what entailed to be a tour guide was going to be more work than one might think. Being a tour guide, having confidence, and public speaking is my personal expertise something that I am truly passionate about. It is something that I am continuing to work on to be the absolute best tour guide that I can be.
I first got interested in the job because it was advertised all around campus. I wanted to be involved more in school and become a part of something bigger than just my schoolwork. My first semester went well I just knew something was missing. I knew that this job was going to be a challenge for me because public speaking was something I struggled with but it was a task that I wanted to overcome. Also, my roommate was doing it and at the time it seemed like I couldn't do anything without her. After applying and getting the job, it was the best decision I have ever made.
All of us new tour guides were trained for months before we were allowed to go out and actually give tours. We were also given a manual. That manual became my Bible. I was so obsessed with learning all of the information about the school because I wanted to be absolutely prepared when my boss would question us at our trainings. I honestly spent more time with my tour guide information than with my schoolwork. Once we completed our training, I felt so confident and nervous going out on my first tour.
Once I actually went out on tour for the first time, I felt so comfortable and confident with my knowledge about the school. All of the hard work and memorization paid off once I returned to the Memorial Union when I completed the tour. All of the people who were on my tour applauded me because I was a freshman knowing all of the information. They all filled out evaluation forms with various positive comments about my tour and my personality. Going out and getting this reinforcement from complete strangers boosted my confidence as well as my public speaking skills. As a result, I made a lot of new friends with my new attitude being more outgoing and friendly. I wanted to befriend everyone that I met some being tour guides and some being people I met in my classes or on my floor. This made my experience at URI my freshman year much more enjoyable. I felt more at home at this new place with a new outlook, new friends, and a new job.
I know that my tour guiding skills will benefit me in the future. I have learned and am continuing to learn how to public speak. Public speaking is a necessity in various fields as well as being a college student. I know that this skill will help me in my future with schooling as well as my profession. Also, tour guiding has transformed me from the shy freshman to the more confident sophomore. Being a tour guide as my expertise has benefitted me in so many ways and I am grateful that I am able to be a part of something so big on campus that has helped me discover who I truly am.
When I came to URI last year as a freshman, I was very timid and shy. It was difficult for me to go out of my comfort zone to make friends and to live in a new place without my family. That spring, I decided to do something totally out of my norm and apply to be a tour guide. After the strenuous application and interview process, I got the job! I was so proud of myself but I knew that what entailed to be a tour guide was going to be more work than one might think. Being a tour guide, having confidence, and public speaking is my personal expertise something that I am truly passionate about. It is something that I am continuing to work on to be the absolute best tour guide that I can be.
I first got interested in the job because it was advertised all around campus. I wanted to be involved more in school and become a part of something bigger than just my schoolwork. My first semester went well I just knew something was missing. I knew that this job was going to be a challenge for me because public speaking was something I struggled with but it was a task that I wanted to overcome. Also, my roommate was doing it and at the time it seemed like I couldn't do anything without her. After applying and getting the job, it was the best decision I have ever made.
All of us new tour guides were trained for months before we were allowed to go out and actually give tours. We were also given a manual. That manual became my Bible. I was so obsessed with learning all of the information about the school because I wanted to be absolutely prepared when my boss would question us at our trainings. I honestly spent more time with my tour guide information than with my schoolwork. Once we completed our training, I felt so confident and nervous going out on my first tour.
Once I actually went out on tour for the first time, I felt so comfortable and confident with my knowledge about the school. All of the hard work and memorization paid off once I returned to the Memorial Union when I completed the tour. All of the people who were on my tour applauded me because I was a freshman knowing all of the information. They all filled out evaluation forms with various positive comments about my tour and my personality. Going out and getting this reinforcement from complete strangers boosted my confidence as well as my public speaking skills. As a result, I made a lot of new friends with my new attitude being more outgoing and friendly. I wanted to befriend everyone that I met some being tour guides and some being people I met in my classes or on my floor. This made my experience at URI my freshman year much more enjoyable. I felt more at home at this new place with a new outlook, new friends, and a new job.
I know that my tour guiding skills will benefit me in the future. I have learned and am continuing to learn how to public speak. Public speaking is a necessity in various fields as well as being a college student. I know that this skill will help me in my future with schooling as well as my profession. Also, tour guiding has transformed me from the shy freshman to the more confident sophomore. Being a tour guide as my expertise has benefitted me in so many ways and I am grateful that I am able to be a part of something so big on campus that has helped me discover who I truly am.